Need new gas regulator?

[mcmuffin]

Hello!

Pardon my lack of technical expertise, but the last time I went to start my smoker up, it would not. After a while I could smell gas near the tank. I figure I need a new regulator (I think that's what it's called). I have a GOSM smoker... is this something that I could easily fix myself?

Thanks in advance!

 

[justpassingthru]

I have read that the newer propane tanks have a built in safety feature that if you open the tank valve and the smoker control knob is open they will not function, also if you open the tank valve too quickly it limits the amount of propane, you might check and see if that is the problem before buying a new regulator.

Gene

 

[mcmuffin]

I'll give it a shot, but I think the fact that I could smell gas leakage leads to blown valve or something. Assuming that it is broken, could anyone help with suggestions?

 

[bustintires]

try justpassingthru's suggestion first. he is correct with the valve advice, also try spraying your fittings and lines with soapy water to check for leaks. gas valves will normally smell of propane however a leak at one of the fittings on the valve may be the issue.

 

[mcmuffin]

Super - thanks so much. Will let y'all know how it works out!

Cheers!

 

[Dutch]

Make sure your fittings are tight and check for leaks, if everything is good and you still smell propane do the one of the following

If the smoker is fairly new contact the manufacturer (Landmann) and explain the problem. If it is a defective part, they may send you a new one. If you have had it for a while, take the regulator and go to Home Depot, Lowes or your local man-mall that sells grill and grill accessories. Someone there should be able to help you find the right regulator.

 

[coffee_junkie]

Yes make sure everything is shut off, tank and smoker. Then slowly open the tank valve. It happens to me almost every time with my GOSM. If you do it wrong there is still some gas that will come from the tank, just not enough for the piezo ingniter to start a flame, that could be where you are getting the smell of gas from. If it is the regulator, just get some wrenches, take it apart and head to the nearist propane store, they can help you get the right regulator. When you put it back together use some teflon tape to seal the threads. Then turn the tank on without turning on the smoker burner, use a dish soap/water solution to test that your connections are sealed. use a spray bottle and spray the solution liberally on your fittings, if there is a leak some bubbles with appear, and get larger, if you have a leak take it apart and try your luck at the teflon tape again, you could also tape, then apply pipe dope on top of that, I used to replace the valves in the tanks and that is the method we used to make them sealed really good.

 

[mcmuffin]

It worked! Thanks everyone.

It was -20°C the morning it didn't work so I didn't spend a whole lot of time troubleshooting. Got it up and running last night and will be up tomorrow at the crack of dawn (or before), ready to smoke some pork butt!

THANK YOU!

 

[aeroforce100]

Sounds like that was your problem. If I remember right, the boiling point of Liquid Propane is -44 F!

 

[coffee_junkie]

-20 C is only -4 F....it had nothing to do with the propane, it was the ambient temps that affected the smokers temps. I have had trouble with propane freezing around -30F which translates to -34.4 C. Gassers just don't do well in the really cold weather, I use mine in the winter to make sausage, but use my UDS for hotter smokes.

 

[mcmuffin]

It ended up doing it again this morning (it's only -2°C right now). I poured some warm water over the regulator and it got things moving... smoker's now warming up and I'm excited!

 

[rdknb]

First I would check to see where the leak is coming from. Use soapy water and put it around all the connections, and if it bubbles there is the leak. As far as the regulator it is a screw off screw on item. After you replace it and for that matter any time you hook the tank up use the soapy water and check for leaks. Hope that helps